Best of Show at the St. Michaels Concours d'Elegance on Chesapeake Bay
By: Dan Vaughan
The 15th Annual St. Michaels Concours d' Elegance was held on the waterfront grounds of Talbot Country Club located between St. Michaels and Oxford, in Easton, Md. Founded in 1910, the Talbot Country Club, resting along the banks of Trippe Creek, holds the distinction of being the oldest continually operated golf and social club on the Eastern Shore.
Approximately a hundred automobiles were on display with the most senior being a 1902 Rambler Model C Runabout, also the 2nd oldest 1902 Rambler known to exist. Its owner is its third caretaker. The Rambler was one of about a half-a-dozen brass-era vehicles which included a Thomas Flyer K 6-70 Flyabout. Powered by a 730 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine delivering 70 horsepower, the Thomas Flyer was one of the most powerful on the road at the time. Its price tag was similarly impressive, selling at over $6,000, nearly twice the cost of an average home.
Several early Front Wheel Drive automobiles were on display, including a 1929 and 1930 Cord L-29, a Ruxton Model C, and a pair of Cord 812s - one was a convertible phaeton and the other a Custom four-door Berline. Two front-wheel drive American production cars were announced in 1929, and the one built by Errett Loban Cord was the first to market, followed closely by Archie Andrews with his short-lived Ruxton automobile. The Cord (which was never given a name and adopted the prototype's I.D. number - L-29) was offered in four factory body styles. Around 5,010 units were built between the 1929 introduction and its close of production on December 31, 1931. Less than 100 Ruxton front-wheel drive automobiles were produced before the company declared bankruptcy. Cord's second front-wheel-drive car to bear his name was the 810 powered by a 289 cubic-inch Lycoming V-8 made in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Production delays and various quality control problems hurt sales, and the company was forced to close its door following the 1937 model year.
The Cadillac Class housed a sixteen-cylinder model with all-weather sedan coachwork by Fleetwood, a 1936 Cadillac Series 60 two-door coupe by Fisher, and two 1941 Cadillac Series 62s - one with a convertible sedan body by Fisher and the other a two-door convertible coupe by Fleetwood.
Cars from the post-War era were well represented with household names such as the Porsche 911, Chevrolet Corvette, Shelby Cobra, and the Jaguar XK150. Lesser know models included the Dual Ghia, a gorgeous Bristol 404, Subean Alpine MK1, Nash Healey, Healey Silverstone, and an Imperial Crown.
From the extensive and well-curated collection of automotive history, the judge's favorite on the field was the 1935 SS1 Airline Saloon owned by Jim and Lisa Hendrix. Of the circa-600 examples originally built, it is believed that approximately twelve remain. The company we now call Jaguar had its beginnings in 1922 as the Swallow Sidecar Co., which manufactured motorcycle sidecars. Founder Sir William Lyons had greater ambitions, and beginning in 1927 he used his skills to mainly make bodies for the Austin Seven while operating as the Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Co., in Coventry, United Kingdom. To express his styling vision fully, Lyons and the Swallow engineers designed a frame that would accommodate specific coachwork, which would include an engine mounted closer to the cowl and the wheels pushed further to the front. The result was the SS1 riding on a 112-inch wheelbase with an incredibly long hood, powered by the company's 2.5-liter, 20 horsepower (55 HP actual) in-line 6-cylinder engine.
The S.S. 1 debuted at the London Olympia Motor Show in 1931. It was a close-coupled coupe and the first car that was designed by William Lyons. Revisions and updates followed as Lyons came up with a much-improved radiator design and a new saloon body, followed by a 'Four Light' Saloon, its name referencing its four side windows, and it was much roomier than previous models. Automobile production ceased during World War II, and in 1943 Lyons dropped the 'SS' in company and marque names and formed the Jaguar marque.
The Airline Saloon was in production for a short period of time, from 1934 to 1936, and like many cars of the period, the Airline followed the fashion of streamlining. The Hendrix's Airline is believed to be the only example with its original body, chassis, engine, and dual RAG carburetors. It has been restored in its original silver paint and special light blue leather upholstery. The 'all silver' Airline Saloon was built to celebrate the 25th Silver Jubilee of King George V of England.
Below are additional photographs of the SS1 Airline Saloon, pictured at various other locations we have been fortunate enough to cross paths.
Photo credit: Dan Vaughanposted on conceptcarz.com
